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A vehicle caught fire as it was heading west on N.C. Highway 24-27 Wednesday afternoon just outside of Albemarle.

Both the driver and the passenger escaped unharmed.

The driver was able to pull the four-door vehicle off the highway onto Odell Road, according to
Stanly County Sheriff’s Deputy Dalton Sells.

“Apparently it was some type of mechanical issue,” Sells said. “The vehicle started to leak oil as it started down the roadway, causing it to subsequently catch on fire.”

Both individuals in the car seemed fine and refused medical attention, according to Sells.

The original call for help was made at 1:07 p.m., and the right lane was closed briefly as fire trucks doused the car. The vehicle was towed away, according to Sells.

The Albemarle Fire Department, Endy Volunteer Fire Department, North Carolina Forest
Service and the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call.

Imari Scarbrough is a freelance contributor for The Stanly News and Press.